January 2025 - Lawn Solutions Australia

What Are Mole Crickets and Will They Damage My Lawn?

What Do Mole Crickets look like?

Mole crickets, members of the cricket family, spend nearly their entire lives underground. Their front half resembles a mole, equipped with sturdy, shovel-like claws designed for efficient burrowing. Unlike typical crickets that use their powerful hind legs for jumping, mole crickets have shorter back legs specialized for pushing dirt aside as they dig.

They are between 3cm to 4cm long with a rigid head and forelimbs while having a soft abdomen. On their face, they have two fine antennae and a pair of black beady eyes. These crickets will have two sets of wings: a pair of forewings and a pair of hind wings.

mole cricket

Where Do Mole Crickets Live?

Mole Crickets are most commonly found in coastal, urban and grassy woodlands where there is more rainfall. They are most active throughout the warmer months of the year.

How Do Mole Crickets Communicate With Each Other?

Mole crickets are primarily nocturnal, becoming most active after rainfall or recent lawn irrigation. Males position themselves at the entrance of their burrows, facing inward, and produce calls to attract females. Damp burrows are more appealing to females than dry sites, as they provide a more favourable environment for laying eggs.

Fact: Did you know that the male Mole Crickets are one of the loudest insects, with Cicadas being the loudest?

What Type of Mole Crickets Are in Australia?

Australia has its own native species of Mole Cricket called Gryllotalpa pluvialis. Other species found in Australia are the African Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa africana) and the Changa Mole Cricket (Scapteriscus didactylus), which was accidentally introduced to the Newcastle area.

Why Are Mole Crickets Considered to be a Pest?

These insects feed primarily on grass roots to obtain nutrients, making them a significant pest, particularly on golf courses and lawns. Their feeding and burrowing habits can gradually cause patches of grass to wither and die over time.

How Can I Test for Mole Crickets in my Lawn?

If you are unsure if this pest is in your lawn, we recommend doing a soapy water test. To do a soapy water test, mix up a big bucket of water and add some dishwashing liquid. Then, pour the soapy water over the damaged area as well as the surrounding healthy turf. Then, keep an eye on the area for five or so minutes and see if any insects rise to the surface. This test is best done at dusk when they are most likely to be active.

grub test

How Do I Treat for Mole Crickets?

To treat a Mole Cricket infestation, we recommend using a fast-acting insecticide. Active ingredients usually include fipronil or bifenthrin.

Apply the insecticide as per the application instructions, at dusk is best, then irrigate the lawn for around 15 minutes. This will help the insecticide reach down deeper into the soil, as the mole crickets can burrow quite deeply. Repeat applications may be necessary.


For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here or check out our YouTube Channel here.

battle insecticide bifenthrin
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Zoysia Australis: The Turf That Southeast Queensland Can’t Get Enough Of

The Rise of Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis has quickly become a top choice for homeowners and landscapers in Southeast Queensland. Its exceptional qualities and low-maintenance nature have made it a favourite among residents seeking a beautiful, durable, and easy-to-care-for lawn, and turf producer GoTurf can attest to that.

Ever since Australis hit the family-owned and operated GoTurf farm, it’s quickly become their number one selling retail turf variety, and the team is far from surprised. What is it about Australis that’s caught Southeast Queensland’s attention?

Turf expert Simon Pilbeam has been singing its praises as he’s witnessed firsthand why it’s a top choice, with customers continuing to reach out and share their appreciation months down the line. “Not only does it look incredible, but it’s also incredibly low-maintenance and has a good wear tolerance. Perfect for busy lifestyles, and with weather as good as ours, the more time we can spend enjoying our yard over maintaining it, the better.”

Bob, a thrilled homeowner in Burrum Heads, transformed their newly built property with Zoysia Australis turf last year.

zoysia australis

“I’m absolutely delighted with the lawn,” Bob shared. “We listed our property this week. Have a look; the grass has come up well. It looks absolutely gorgeous, the best street appeal on the block.”

Simon chimed in, “The turf paired with the newly built home makes his house look like a million dollars, and his street appeal is the envy of neighbours. As he mentioned, choosing Zoysia Australis increased the value of his property. Besides the turf’s aesthetic appeal and beautiful hue, Australis would give every purchaser a satisfied feeling for their home.”

Down the coast in the Glasshouse Mountains, Matt Heilig, General Manager of GoTurf oversees over 150 hectares of turf and Australis share of the land is rapidly increasing to meet demand. Matt shared, “As one of Australia’s largest producers of popular Zoysia grasses over the past decade and a half, replacing these varieties with Australis was a no-brainer after watching it grow and farming it for an initial 12 months.

We are over halfway through replacing our current 30-odd hectares of existing Zoysia with Australis and at the rate of its popularity (with good reason), I can see it becoming a top grass for Queensland and Northern New South Wales down the line. I regularly check with customers who have had Australis for 12 months or longer, and it’s still as great as the day it arrived. In fact, in the past 18 months since Zoysia Australis came to market, we have not had a single piece of negative feedback. With over 100,000 sqm now supplied to the local market, that’s a great testament; it’s just a great grass.”

In the state’s capital, GoTurf’s Kieran Marsh weighed in on why it’s taken Brisbane by storm: “Since Australis has hit the market, we have seen a massive shift in the turf market in Brisbane. Australis has quickly taken over in popularity at the store at Brendale; once customers get the chance to get up close and personal and compare it to other varieties, it’s an easy decision to make.”

Go Turf BrendaleGo Turf BrendaleGo Turf Brendale

“Australis provides great aesthetics while being easy to care for; it can fit many different lifestyles, from lawn enthusiast to an everyday family backyard.” As Australis thrives in various conditions, from full sun to medium shade, you’ll find it gracing yards across the city, whether they’re bathed in sunlight or nestled under the shade of trees and buildings.

Zoysia Australis

Despite its admiration and fast rise in popularity, Zoysia Australis is a relativity new kid on the block, but that doesn’t mean the science behind it is.

Zoysia’s pride and joy, cultivated with care

Are you familiar with TifTuf? The same scientist who developed the globally popular TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Dr Brian Schwartz, also developed Zoysia Australis. Zoysia Australis has outperformed other Zoysias in testing in both the USA and Australia and is among GoTurf’s top picks for Australian families for its wide applications of use, good wear tolerance, and low maintenance needs.

zoysia australis logo

Shade or shine, Australis thrives in a variety of conditions.

Are large buildings or trees casting shade on your yard? That’s no issue for Australis. It’s adaptable to both full sun and medium shade, making it a suitable contender for various properties. This hardy cultivar can photosynthesise (a critical step in maintaining the proper nutrient balance) in as little as 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day.

A rapid rate of growth and establishment

Zoysia Australis develops a deep root system with strong rhizome growth during establishment. This exceptional root system promotes a soft, medium-leaf grass that enables it to recover quicker than other zoysia varieties from wear and tear, while also providing greater disease and weed resistance.

Not to mention, the strong root and rhizome system means that your Zoysia Australis lawn will stay lush and green without the need for a strict watering and fertilising schedule, making this one of the easiest turfs to care for.

Striking Appearance, changing hue

Zoysia Australis brings an aesthetic charm to home lawns, further solidifying its position as one of the best types of Zoysia grasses to grow in the region. Additionally, Zoysia Australis has some unique qualities when it comes to changing the season. During dormancy in the cooler months, it can develop a beautiful red hue, making it a stunning addition to landscaped properties.

Zoysia Australis is exclusively available from Lawn Solutions Australia accredited Members. You can see who your local Zoysia Australis supplier is near you here.

A ‘Hi Quality’ Turf Story

From Malta to the Hawkesbury

At Hi Quality Turf you can most certainly say farming is in the blood. Charlie Muscat aged in his late teens decided to leave his family farm in Malta and follow his 3 brothers Jimmy, Joe and Dominic to chase bigger and better things by migrating to Australia in 1964.

Charlie was blown away by the vastness of the open land before him, so different to the rocky landscape he was used to back home. It didn’t take Charlie long to begin farming with his brothers on their first parcel of land at Pitt Town Bottoms on the Hawkesbury River. There they were the Muscat brothers doing what they do best.

By 1980, Charlie had bought out the land with his wife Maria and their young family and were farming 30 acres growing potatoes, lettuce, cauliflower, watermelon and cabbage. Eventually, Charlie’s boys David, Richard and Jason grew up and of course, wanted nothing more than to join their father full-time on the farm and one by one that is where they ended up.

It was in the late 90’s after many arduous years of veggie farming, that the family recognised the potential of the growing turf industry and decided to make the transition from veggies to turf in 1999. Planting crops of Kikuyu, Couch and Soft Leaf Buffalo on the 30 acres initially.

Hi Quality Turf was established in 1974 by Keith Smith a local of the Hawkesbury that grew and harvested turf at Pitt Town Bottoms. As his business grew, he resorted to buying all his turf from local growers including Charlie and the boys, who eventually were his exclusive supplier.

Hi Quality Turf

After a few years of farming and supplying turf to Keith, the opportunity arose to purchase the Hi Quality Turf business.

In 2001 Charlie, David, Richard and Jason jumped at the opportunity and were excited to take on the new challenge. Even back then the fundamentals of the Hi Quality Turf brand was built on high standards in product and service, which shows in the longevity of the business and clientele, some of which have been customers of Hi Quality from the outset.

Since the takeover in 2001, farm expansion has gone from 30 acres to 180 acres and an increase in commercial services provided by Hi Quality to include supply and installation of maxi rolls, washed turf, turf planting and field surface renewal. Gone were the days of arriving at a job barefoot and hand unloading an entire load of turf to the kerb side.

In 2009 and 2010 Hi Quality Turf was proud to be the sole supplier of turf for the Breakfast on the Bridge event in Sydney where 10,000m2 of turf was laid to cover the entire span of the Harbour Bridge to have over 6000 people attend and enjoy breakfast. It was quite an experience.

Hi Quality Turf Hi Quality Turf

Other noteworthy jobs include installing turf at the Prime Minister’s residence at Kirribilli House, the field renovation works at the Cronulla Sharks stadium, supplying turf to various charity events like the reconstruction of the local soccer fields at Pitt Town Sports Club and working with Hogs for Homeless returfing several regional sports grounds in Central West NSW.

The soil at the turf farm alongside the Hawkesbury River is some of the best turf-growing soil you will find anywhere. The evident drawback of being so close to a major river system is the obvious threat of flooding, which has unfortunately happened several times since 2020. The worst was in July 2022 when flood levels exceeded 13.5m breaking the largest flood record for 50 years, resulting in a total loss of crops and production, major loss of infrastructure and riverbank erosion making some parts of the farm unrecognisable.

However, during this tough period, it was nice to witness new business relationships being forged and the industry coming together to support each other. This played a major role for turf farmers across the Hawkesbury being able to sustain their businesses and get through.

Then in 2023, the prospect of joining Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) transpired and after consideration among the family, they knew it was an opportunity that could not be missed. Knowing that by joining LSA, Hi Quality Turf would be able to streamline its production varieties into premium LSA brands that have the backing, research and support that will allow them to move forward as a company. In early 2024 Hi Quality Turf became LSA’s newest Member and was accredited by AusGAP a short time later. This was followed by the planting of Sir Walter DNA Certified in January 2024, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda in February 2024 and Zoysia Australis planting in early spring 2024.

David, Richard and Jason still actively manage Hi Quality Turf. Charlie, who you can find in the mowing tractor most hours of the day during spring and summer continues to work on the farm also. They are joined by their sister Sue who runs the office and a small team of personnel getting the job done.

Teven Valley Golf Course Shines as Host of NSW Open PGA Qualifier

The picturesque Teven Valley Golf Course recently had the honour of hosting one of the six prestigious NSW Open PGA Qualifier events, marking a significant milestone in the course’s history. This event not only put Teven Valley on the map but also highlighted the dedication and hard work of the entire team behind the scenes.

A Unique Challenge for Professional Golfers

James King, the General Manager of Teven Valley Golf Club, shared insights into the journey that led to this significant event. Having been at Teven for ten months, King found himself managing the event, a role he was both excited and honoured to take on. The selection of Teven Valley as a qualifier location was driven by Golf New South Wales’ desire to promote the tournament across six diverse regions. The course’s unique layout, consisting of nine holes with varied challenges, stood out to the PGA officials, who ultimately decided to play the course as the members do—off the front markers for the first nine holes and the back markers for the remaining nine.

This approach offered a distinctive challenge to professional golfers, who had to adjust to playing a course where par threes dominated one half, while the other half featured par fours and par threes. Despite the unconventional setup, the professionals adapted well, showcasing their versatility and skill.

Teven PGA

A Community Effort

Hosting such a significant event required extensive logistical planning, particularly given the course’s split across two roads and the need for external resources to accommodate the influx of players and spectators. King acknowledged the immense support from the local community, including Ballina Council, local businesses, and the Rotary Club, which helped cater the event. This collaborative effort not only ensured the smooth running of the event but also strengthened Teven Valley’s ties with the community.

A Testament to Teven Valley’s Quality

The event, featuring 72 of the top-ranked players, was a true test of Teven Valley’s course. The competition was fierce, with several players under par after the first day. However, it was Matt Miller who ultimately triumphed, delivering an extraordinary performance with five consecutive birdies on the par threes, securing his victory in a thrilling finish.

For Teven Valley, hosting this PGA qualifier was more than just an event; it was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The course, which underwent significant construction and grass selection changes under the guidance of Superintendent Paul Gumbleton, has now been recognised as a top 100 public access golf course by Golf Australia magazine. This recognition, coupled with the successful hosting of the PGA qualifier, solidifies Teven Valley’s status as a world-class golfing venue.

In the reconstruction of Teven Valley Golf Club, the choice of turf played a significant role in the course’s transformation. For the fairways, the club opted for Sir Grange Zoysia, a premium turf variety renowned for its fine blades, high shade tolerance, and minimal nutrient and water needs. Originally developed for the golf industry, Sir Grange Zoysia is highly adaptable to various climates and features a striking dark green colour, making it the top-selling Zoysia grass in the United States. This choice was heavily influenced by Craig Parry, the course’s designer, who had firsthand experience playing on this turf variety in the U.S. Recognising its quality, Parry insisted on using Sir Grange at Teven.

Teven PGA

Looking Ahead

With the success of the NSW Open PGA Qualifier, Teven Valley Golf Club is already looking to the future. Plans are in place to enhance member facilities, including expanding the car park and installing warm-up nets. These improvements aim to further elevate the experience for both members and visitors, ensuring that Teven Valley remains a premier golfing destination in New South Wales.

As the Teven Valley Golf Club continues to grow, the recent PGA qualifier serves as a proud reminder of what can be achieved through vision, hard work, and community support.

TifTuf Turf Southeast

It’s a dull name for an invigorating collaboration.

By Hillary Thompson, Horticulturist & Communications Director, Super-Sod

American sod farmers aren’t naturally forthcoming with information. Yes, we share and support each other . . . to a point. There’s an invisible line that is not defined yet is never crossed. Cutting-edge farmers protect their “secret sauce.” In the land of slow-cooked, pulled pork BBQ, this is how you get an edge over the competition.

That is why I heard static in April of 2016 when Ben Copeland Jr., CEO of Super-Sod, asked me to meet with North Georgia Turf and Buy Sod (now SodStar) to work together to spread the word about TifTuf Bermuda’s drought tolerance and water savings. Ben is truly our fearless leader, and he patiently listened to me bellyache about why this was a bad idea (our secret marketing sauces would be revealed!). He then told a far-fetched tale about Lawn Solutions Australia. My mind was changed when Ben explained how working together as a group would make more of a splash for TifTuf than going for it alone. He wanted to band together with competitors to put weight behind the water savings consumers will experience due to TifTuf’s drought tolerance. After cyber stalking Lawn Solutions, I was impressed by the collaboration and primed to go for it on our turf.

In group meetings, we mobilized the website tiftufbermuda.com, filmed some videos, created a trade show booth, secured magazine ads, and printed flyers highlighting TifTuf’s drought tolerance case studies. We ordered TifTuf shirts and business cards without our individual sod farm logos on them (these last two items were a bit of a stretch for the outside sales team to accept – but they did!). Our first collective trade show was booked for that November, and we headed to South Carolina for a show organized for golf course superintendents.

At the first trade shows, the sales reps from our three sod farms eyed each other suspiciously and stayed 6 feet away from each other, like they were contagious. After several awkward shows, we had each other’s mobile numbers keyed into our cell phones. This exchange of numbers was the first step in becoming true associates and a sign we were easing into this.

Over the last eight years, we have attended targeted tradeshows to reach all points where TifTuf would be considered – from home builders, apartment builders, green builders, sports field managers, facility managers, landscapers, to landscape architects. We no longer run magazine ads, but we are getting together for choice shows, like the recent show in July 2024 geared to water management professionals in Georgia.

None of these endeavors would have been possible if key stakeholders had not given their energetic support to this untraditional alliance. (As an aside, I have yet to hear of any other group forming to market other American plant material.) Because Ben recognized the importance of the Lawn Solutions model of collaborating for the good of everyone, TifTuf Turf Southeast was able to form a unique union and reach customers. Ben plus the leadership at North Georgia Turf and SodStar gave their monetary support, staff, and personal time to the equation. Finally, none of this would have happened if almost 25 years ago Dr. Bryan Schwartz had not recognized the significant drought tolerance of TifTuf Bermuda. Not only did he single out TifTuf, Bryan also attends key tradeshows as a pro bono speaker, then hangs out in the TifTuf show booth to answer questions. Due to the weight of scientific support, his talks telling the story of turfgrass development and showcasing the research on TifTuf’s drought tolerance cause an excited stir in the audience.

Speaking to the success of TifTuf for Super-Sod alone, TifTuf now accounts for 47% of our sod sales. Out of our six turfgrasses, one grass carrying nearly half of the sales is noteworthy, especially when that metric was reached in only eight years.

We are focusing on growing TifTuf as our only Bermuda variety, having already phased out all other Bermudagrass sales from our farms in our original footprint of Georgia and the Carolinas. At our new farms in Alabama and Tennessee, we are selling out the existing Bermudas fields and replanting only with TifTuf.

Another way to examine the significant sales is to look backward from 12/31/2023 through 1/1/2017 (a period of 84 months), when we harvested 134 million square feet of Tifway 419 Bermudagrass. Comparing it to TifTuf sales, we can look backward during the shorter timeframe of 12/31/2023 through 7/1/2022, when we harvested 141 million square feet of TifTuf in a period of only 18 months.

For Super-Sod, TifTuf is now the “builder grade” Bermudagrass of choice for new residential and retail developments because builders and landscapers experience the ease of establishment and reduced callbacks after jobs are done. TifTuf is also specified for sports fields and high-profile gardens like the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the University of Georgia campus.

Without Lawn Solutions modeling collaboration, our respective sod farms would have missed out on an enriching experience. Because we’re three sod farms pooling resources, we don’t have ROI for each event, publication, or marketing effort, except that the rising tide of TifTuf has now sold 2 billion square feet of sod and has put older turfgrasses such as Tiway 419 straight into retirement. Many thanks to our wise Australian counterparts for leading by example!

A New Golf Frontier on the Southern Ocean

The Cliffs Kangaroo Island

Set to open in 2025, this world-class course by Darius Oliver offers a stunning golf experience atop ancient cliffs on Kangaroo Island.

A world-class golf experience is coming to South Australia. The Cliffs Kangaroo Island (KI), designed by renowned Golf Course Architect Darius Oliver and The Cliffs KI Managing Director Sam Atkins, will soon be a premier destination for golf enthusiasts. The first rounds are expected to be played in October 2025.

Created in collaboration with the team behind Cape Wickham Golf Links, The Cliffs KI features wide, sweeping fairways that follow the dramatic contours of ancient cliffs. The course boasts cutting-edge facilities, including a Clubhouse, Restaurant, High-End Retail Store, and Eco Pod Accommodation.

The Cliffs Kangaroo Island is situated on a 600-acre site of sand and rock, atop 30 million-year-old cliffs that offer breathtaking views of the Southern Ocean. Located on Australia’s third-largest island, which is accessible only by ferry or plane, Kangaroo Island is renowned for its natural beauty and local wildlife.

Conversations first began in May 2022 when Martin Greenwood, Communication Manager for Programmed Turnpoint and Golf Course Builder at The Cliffs KI, reached out to Andrew Rowett at Sunnyside Instant Lawn. With a focus on water conservation and creating a world-class playing surface, Greenwood wanted to learn about the science behind TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. The Cliffs KI team and Programmed Turnpoint collaborated closely with Sunnyside Instant Lawn to develop effective solutions for turf establishment and maintaining turf quality.

Golfers will encounter a unique mix of challenges, including elevated cliffs, sea breezes, sand dunes, and high temperatures, making it a distinctive environment for turf growth. The Cliffs KI team, led by Managing Director Sam Atkins, planned the project with extensive research, placing a strong emphasis on the turf. Key discussions with Sunnyside Instant Lawn arose primarily due to challenges related to water supply, as the course will be irrigated with desalinated water from a newly constructed dam.

A meeting with the University of Georgia’s Dr Brian Schwartz, the turf breeder behind the release of TifTuf, was arranged at Sunnyside Instant Lawn with The Cliffs KI team. Dr Schwartz worked through the science and supporting trials behind TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, providing key data and a thorough understanding of the most researched grass in the world. They were able to discuss water usage with Dr Schwartz, who provided detailed insights into TifTuf’s proven water-saving research.

This information demonstrated that water usage could be reduced by 38% compared to initial suggestions to install other Bermuda grasses. The Cliffs KI could now reduce water volumes and, in turn, reduce overall expenses.

TifTuf research extended further with a group visit to inspect the TifTuf at Sunnyside Instant Lawn. “How can you assure us genetic purity?” was a question raised on-site, which highlighted the AusGAP Program and offered confidence in turf purity. To see this firsthand, TifTuf trials were established on-site. Two areas of focus were the 1st tee and the 18th hole, where turf was fenced off from kangaroos. Freshly harvested TifTuf slabs were raked into the sand and exposed to harsh conditions. Each trial was laid directly on top of the sand profile and watered for four weeks until the roots connected. After this period, the trials remained untouched, enduring sun, strong winds, salt spray, and sand drift, with no watering and only minimal rain over the hot summer period.

When asked about the results, Martin said areas exposed on the sand dunes were a “good golf surface” and “I could put a mower over that and play on it”. He was astounded by one area protected from wind, which had “great results, unbelievable in fact”. Trials over the six months leading up to a proposal showed TifTuf’s ability to survive in summer with only small amounts of rainwater on virgin sandy dunes. Despite being exposed to minimal rainfall, TifTuf thrived — something that Sunnyside Instant Lawn’s Andrew Rowett monitored closely with Martin Greenwood and The Cliffs KI team.

The results proved that TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda would perform on a sand profile, with the ability to survive in a long dry climate, handle winter cold conditions, and offer a fast spring green-up. “An unbelievable outcome,” and a great fit for this golf course location. Turfing at The Cliffs Kangaroo Island is set to begin in late 2024 and will extend over 12 months, involving both sprig planting and solid turfing. Solid turfing will primarily focus on erosion-prone areas, bunker faces, and surrounds. As South Australia’s top tourist destination, Kangaroo Island will soon offer golf enthusiasts and visitors a world-class experience on Australia’s first full 18-hole TifTuf golf course.

TifTuf Gets the ‘Smart Drop’ Tick of Approval

Smart Approved WaterMark Rebrand

smart drop certified

The Smart Approved WaterMark launched in 2004 to certify and promote water-efficient products, has recently been rebranded to Smart Drop Certified. This updated branding aims to enhance consumer awareness and promote a wider range of innovative water-saving products and services.

Smart Drop will position the water efficiency certification program as contemporary, innovative, and forward-thinking while respecting traditional values of conservation. It aims to be the leading and universally recognised symbol of water efficiency, empowering consumers and businesses to make sustainable choices through certified products and services.

As part of this transition, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, a turfgrass known for its exceptional drought tolerance, has now been Smart Drop Certified. Originally developed in the United States, TifTuf was the first grass in Australia to receive the previous Smart Approved WaterMark due to its proven water-saving benefits. With over 25 years of independent trials demonstrating its superior drought resistance, TifTuf continues to stand out as a leading choice for water-conscious consumers.

The Smart Drop Certified program’s success in Australia has long been the envy of TifTuf growers in the United States (US). Having this truly independent certification program assures reduced water use for consumers and is a way of promoting this significant product benefit in the marketplace. The US has a WaterSense program headed up by the US. Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate select water efficiency products, but the program is government led and excludes plant materials.

Until recently, this meant that TifTuf was unable to be acknowledged in the US in the same capacity as it is in Australia. But thanks to a new partnership between the Chicago-based Alliance for Water Efficiency and The Water Conservancy in Australia, the Smart Drop program has now expanded and can include the US. This exciting development means that TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has become one of the first products to receive Smart Drop Certification in the US, further solidifying its reputation as a water-efficient turf option in both Australia and North America.

Smart Drop Certification is an incredibly useful tool for consumers to help them identify the most water-efficient products available. Keep an eye out for the Smart Drop Certified logo as it rolls out across Australia and the US.

For more information, please get in touch with Lawn Solutions Australia.

Revitalising Rural Town Centres

Lameroo Town Centre Project

It would be hard to drive through Lameroo, South Australia and fail to notice the lush expanses of grass that now contrast the rural, desert-like landscape of the district. Situated in the Mallee 200km East of Adelaide, Lameroo is a small rural township that acts as the service centre to many large and small agricultural businesses and families. It’s also a popular thoroughfare connecting Adelaide to many large eastern towns and cities, making it a must-stop destination for many weary travellers.

Lameroo Town Centre Project TifTuf

As part of Southern Mallee District Council’s Commercial Centres Revitalisation Project, Lameroo’s town centre now boasts a beautiful, functional space that includes a dog park, pump track, playground and BBQ shelter. A standout feature and something that can’t be missed as you drive through is a 22-metre-long centre-pivot structure that pays homage to the district’s strong agricultural history. To bring the project together and to provide areas of dust-free play space and greenery, over 2,000m2 of instant lawn were installed.

The upgrades were undertaken to create community assets that would boost tourism and the business economy of the area. It was hoped that the new areas would be heavily utilised not only by the 900 or so residents of Lameroo but also by tourists in the area and travellers passing through. To keep up with the regular and hopefully plentiful use, a hardy turf variety would be required, one that was self-repairing and versatile enough for the different recreational areas. The lawn had to be suitable for the full sun area which would endure hot, dry summers and frosty, cold winters that are typical of Lameroo’s climate. It also had to be an economical performer, as the project was funded by the Southern Mallee District Council mostly through grant funding. After initial consultations with the team at The Turf Farm in Pinnaroo, Eureka Kikuyu was chosen for the project. This variety already featured across other council-maintained areas of the town and was, therefore, a familiar variety that would be well-suited to the high-traffic area around the play space.

Lameroo Town Centre Project

Landscaping was completed by LCS Landscapes, a South Australian commercial landscaping business in consultation with the Southern Mallee District Council and the community of Lameroo. Working together with The Turf Farm, over 2000m2 of Eureka Kikuyu was delivered and installed with the final roll being laid in August last year. The lawn was established quickly and has already been enjoyed by thousands of visitors to the area. The lawn has complimented and enhanced a previously dusty and dry area, providing useable spaces and much-needed greenery.

The project has been completed in perfect time for Lameroo to join the Australian Silo Art Trail with a stunning new mural by world-renowned artist Sam ‘Smug’ Bates. This fantastic community-lead artwork has already had a huge impact on the community and has provided another compelling reason for travellers to stop by and enjoy the lawn and revitalised space.

lamaroo silo

‘We love working in and around our district, providing lawn to help beautify the Southern Mallee. It’s always a pleasure to drive through Lameroo, watching the community and visitors experience the joy of lawns and green spaces. There is nothing quite like sharing your passion with your community and seeing your hard work being appreciated! We’re excited to be a part of many more projects just like this one.’ – The Turf Farm

How To Identify Lawn Grubs

If you find your lawn afflicted with the curse of the lawn grubs don’t despair. Treating and eradicating these pests is relatively easy.

Here’s some signs to look out for:

Increased bird activity on your lawn

One of the most easily spotted symptoms is an increase in bird activity on your lawn. These grubs make a great snack for the local birds and you’ll find them popping over to your place for lunch!

Greyish-brown moths

Small, greyish brown moths fly around looking out for the healthiest lawn to leave their eggs on, giving their larvae the best chance of survival. These moths can be seen flying around just above the grass normally around dusk. These moths lay their eggs en masse, and in 2–5 days these eggs become grub larvae. These caterpillars are the critters doing the damage as they spend between 18–24 days chewing through your beautiful lawn before becoming pupae and around 5–8 days later moths and so the cycle begins again!

Brown patches in your lawn

As your lawn recovers from the winter chill and spring sees your lawn becoming greener, especially after your spring fertilising, keep an eye out for brown patches that stay brown. You can lift some of the grass in the patched and if lawn grubs are the culprit you’ll find that the grass will roll up like a carpet, as it has no roots.

Lawn Grubs

Spongy lawn

A spongy lawn can also be a good indicator of grub activity.

armyworm

Grub test

If you are unsure if you have grubs in your lawn, it is best to do a grub test. To do a grub test, mix a bucket of soapy water and pour it over the edge of an affected area (where the grass is brown or dry). Keep an eye on it and after about 10 minutes or so, usually if they are there, they will come up to the surface. This test is best done at dawn or dusk when they are most likely to be active.

Grub test

How to treat lawn grubs

So how do you fix it? We recommend using a fast acting knock down insecticide like Lawn Solutions Battle Insecticide. Battle Insecticide is a powerful knockdown and residual pesticide that works through direct contact and by residual action as the pest comes into contact with treated surfaces.

battle insecticide

Prevention

Unfortunately attack by these grubs can happen to any lawn and can occur numerous times during a season.

This is why we recommend Grub Guard Ultimate, Acelepryn GR, Acelepryn Liquid. Acelepryn provides safe and effective control of black beetle while minimising the impact on the environment and non-target organisms, such as bees and earthworms.

Acelepryn targets pests such as black beetle, stem weevil, cut worm and army worm. The great thing about Acelepryn in comparison to other pesticides, is that it’s preventative. This is why spring is a great time to spread it out and protect your lawn for up to six months.

For more advice contact your local Lawn Solutions Australia turf supplier, and send those grubs packing.